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“People like to hear that there were fights and they like to hear that it was hard and it was really stressful, the frontman of the Wallflowers said in a recent phone interview. “That doesn’t make better music. I never bought that rap. That’s just garbage. It can, but it doesn’t have to be miserable. Why do people have to be miserable to make records? Does that make music any better? I’ve been doing it a long time. I don’t know why people are going on about with that?”

The latest Wallflowers CD, “Glad All Over,” seems to support Dylan’s argument that harmony within a band makes for better albums.

It is arguably the best yet from the Wallflowers, as the band shows renewed energy and a willingness to introduce some fresh dimensions into the group’s sound.

“This record was done in less than a month,” Dylan said.

“You can do it in less time and you can do it in more time. But that was a month that was used really efficiently. It was a lot of work and it was never laborious. It was a very positive month, and everybody was at a creative peak, at a high, and that’s what you hope for each time.”

For fans of the group, this strong return to action is very welcome news considering the group had been on hiatus for nearly seven years, a period during which Dylan stepped out as a solo artist, releasing two CDs and touring behind both releases.

That hiatus marked the end of a decade-long run that had seen the Wallflowers achieve considerable success and enabled Dylan to establish his viability and own identity as a songwriter and band leader – something that isn’t easy when your father happens to be arguably the greatest songwriter of the rock era – Bob Dylan.

The Wallflowers broke through with its second album, the 1996 release, “Bringing Down The Horse.” With hit songs like “One Headlight,” “6th Avenue Heartache” and “Three Marlenas,” “Bringing Down The Horse” went on to sell four million copies.

But after that, the group saw its fortunes level off as its next two CDs, “Breach” (2000) and “Red Letter Days” (2003) failed to come even remotely close to the huge success of “Bringing Down The Horse.”

There were also internal issues in the band in the group that led to changes in guitarists and drummers. And while the band made a solid fifth album in 2005’s “Rebel, Sweetheart,” Dylan knew it was time for the band to take a break.

“Certainly after the last record, we got a little complacent,” he said of “Rebel, Sweetheart.” “Things felt a little stagnant within the group. So that’s why it was necessary to do different things.”

When the Wallflowers reconvened, it was with a somewhat different lineup. Original members Dylan, keyboardist Rami Jaffee and bassist Greg Richling were joined by guitarist Stuart Mathis and drummer Jack Irons (a former member of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Pearl Jam.). There was also renewed energy and a different approach to making music.

Dylan continued to bring some songs in for “Glad All Over,” but more than ever, the other band members got involved in the creative process.

“I brought a handful of songs,” Dylan said. “But that (collaborating) that was part of our intention … Everybody wanted to be more involved. I wanted a little bit of relief in the writing process.”

Some of the songs that were full band collaborations are ones that add some new wrinkles to the Wallflowers sound.

“Reboot the Mission” intentionally tips its hat to the Clash with its slinky beat and riffy rock sound. (Clash singer/guitarist Joe Strummer is saluted in the lyrics and Clash guitarist Mick Jones appears on the track.) “Have Mercy On Him Now” has a strong element of Motown in its sound, while “Misfits & Lovers” is a chunky and frisky rocker.

Other songs, such as “First One In The Car” and “One Set of Wings” fall closer to the band’s signature rootsy mid-tempo pop sound that became familiar to fans with songs like “One Headlight” and “6th Avenue Heartache.”

“I think there’s an identity to those (collaborative) songs that is different than the other ones,” Dylan said. “A song like ‘Reboot The Mission,’ I think you can probably imagine I didn’t write that by myself. You might imagine that ‘First One In The Car’ is something that I could have written under the normal circumstance when we record it.”

Another reason for rocked up songs like “Reboot The Mission” and “Misfits & Lovers” was to add a bit of juice to the Wallflowers’ live show.

“For the first time, spent some time thinking about playing this stuff live on tour,” Dylan said “We’ve had records that have had a lot of mid-tempo songs, and that’s not making for a great show at some point.”

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